So, before writing up this post I surfed, cruised, searched, and dug around the web to find what the very BEST independent music blog may be. I tried different Google and Wikipedia searches, read top 50 lists, followed links on blogrolls, and then found myself on Quantcast.com comparing the number of monthly hits between blogs I had never heard of…then I went downstairs and asked my roommates what they their top 5 most visited music blogs are. Their choices were similar to mine, most of which also appeared on top 50 lists and Google/Wikipedia searches so I figured this was sufficient to name them the “top five ‘best’ independent music blogs” on the web. I think that they all offer something a little different and contribute to the independent music community in their own substantial way.
The Internet and the development of MP3 blogs shook the foundations of the music business. You could argue they changed the community for the better or worse depending on your desires/intentions. MP3 blogs are a great way to gain exposure for independent artists—a favorable post on a respected blog could give you the success of bands like the Cold War Kids, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Animal Collective, or the Arcade Fire (granted the material is there first). Perhaps you could be over-buzzed into a human meme that happens to make music like Wavves and Best Coast, but not really have the sound for continued success. Some labels may hate them, but MP3 blogs could also work as free advertising.
In an era when every kid with a MacBook can make an mp3 and put it on the web, and the latest remix-of-a-remix is the hottest version of a song, MP3 bloggers sift through the static to find musical gems and provide a platform that fosters community building for scenes, genres, and movements that are geographically separated.
Top 5 MP3 Blogs:
Listed in no specific order
Hype Machine: The Hype Machine, or Hypem is an mp3 blog aggregator that takes all the most popular and recently blogged about songs and feeds them to your eager little ears in an easy to use website. Hypem is selective about which blogs it collects from, making sure they fit with the ideas behind the website ie. all legal activity that supports the artists it is “promoting” while trying to bring something new to the table. Hypem picks bloggers, who then do the picking for you. You can then browse the latest, most popular, etc. songs and discover some k00l new jams!
Pitchfork: Love it or hate it, (probably a little bit of both) Pitchfork has become the closest thing the Internet has to an authoritative voice on independent music. The website offers independent music reviews,(with a 10 point rating system) news, and ‘forkasts.’ It has columnists, videos and recently launched Pitchfork 3D in its television section. It’s like a new-age Rolling Stone but the reviews often more pretentious, dense, and un-edited. A positive Pitchfork review is sure to give an independent artist at significant boost in Rapidshare and Mediafire downloads. Progressive and likeable, but not overly so… I give Pitchfork an 8.4.
Gorilla vs. Bear: Simply put, (free bias included) Gorilla vs. Bear is a great blog. Definitely has a niche taste, but that’s why it’s so good; Chris Cantalini only blogs about independent artists he likes. But he has good taste; Gorilla vs. Bear has been positively acclaimed by Rolling Stone, Newsweek, URB Magazine’s reader’s poll, The Independent UK, and the New York Times. Chris is knowledgeable and on top of his game, often providing artist news before Pitchfork and Stereogum. You won’t find lengthy reviews and critiques here—no super-boring personal anecdotes either—just relevant information and sweet sweet MP3s for download.
Stereogum: Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs ever. More importantly, people still read it. Stereogum features mainstream and often small independent artists that become mainstream sensations like Vampire Weekend, the Fleet Foxes, and the Arcade Fire. It’s become a respected source for music news, videos, and downloads. Since it’s been around so long, it has developed sort of a mainstream vibe. Nonetheless, Stereogum was fundamental in creating a model for thousands of blogs that succeeded it.
Altered Zones: Altered Zones is Pitchfork’s sister site, with 12 contributors, each of whom are already established music bloggers. Created to adapt to the new musical landscape that Pitchfork couldn’t fully cover, Altered Zones focuses on home-recorded often lo-fi small-scale releases from small scenes all around the world. Altered Zones provides a space for truly independent releases to be discovered. Because the musical landscape is much like the shape shifting soundscapes Altered Zones often features, the blog seems to take a back seat and let the community shape itself. Altered Zones often has guest posts by artists it features—I see this as promoting a horizontal power structure within the musical community. When musicians don’t need to pay for an expensive studio, vinyl, or CD pressings to produce some amazing music, the scene changes; Altered Zones welcomes (/would not exist without) the change.
So, before writing up this post I surfed, cruised, searched, and dug around the web to find what the very BEST independent music blog may be. I tried different Google and Wikipedia searches, read top 50 lists, followed links on blogrolls, and then found myself on Quantcast.com comparing the number of monthly hits between blogs I had never heard of…then I went downstairs and asked my roommates what they their top 5 most visited music blogs are. Their choices were similar to mine, most of which also appeared on top 50 lists and Google/Wikipedia searches so I figured this was sufficient to name them the “top five ‘best’ independent music blogs” on the web. I think that they all offer something a little different and contribute to the independent music community in their own substantial way.
The Internet and the development of MP3 blogs shook the foundations of the music business. You could argue they changed the community for the better or worse depending on your desires/intentions. MP3 blogs are a great way to gain exposure for independent artists—a favorable post on a respected blog could give you the success of bands like the Cold War Kids, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Animal Collective, or the Arcade Fire (granted the material is there first). Perhaps you could be over-buzzed into a human meme that happens to make music like Wavves and Best Coast, but not really have the sound for continued success. Some labels may hate them, but MP3 blogs could also work as free advertising.
In an era when every kid with a MacBook can make an mp3 and put it on the web, and the latest remix-of-a-remix is the hottest version of a song, MP3 bloggers sift through the static to find musical gems and provide a platform that fosters community building for scenes, genres, and movements that are geographically separated.
Top 5 MP3 Blogs:
Listed in no specific orderHype Machine: The Hype Machine, or Hypem is an mp3 blog aggregator that takes all the most popular and recently blogged about songs and feeds them to your eager little ears in an easy to use website. Hypem is selective about which blogs it collects from, making sure they fit with the ideas behind the website ie. all legal activity that supports the artists it is “promoting” while trying to bring something new to the table. Hypem picks bloggers, who then do the picking for you. You can then browse the latest, most popular, etc. songs and discover some k00l new jams!
For more info about Hypem check out Matt’s post.
Pitchfork: Love it or hate it, (probably a little bit of both) Pitchfork has become the closest thing the Internet has to an authoritative voice on independent music. The website offers independent music reviews,(with a 10 point rating system) news, and ‘forkasts.’ It has columnists, videos and recently launched Pitchfork 3D in its television section. It’s like a new-age Rolling Stone but the reviews often more pretentious, dense, and un-edited. A positive Pitchfork review is sure to give an independent artist at significant boost in Rapidshare and Mediafire downloads. Progressive and likeable, but not overly so… I give Pitchfork an 8.4.
Gorilla vs. Bear: Simply put, (free bias included) Gorilla vs. Bear is a great blog. Definitely has a niche taste, but that’s why it’s so good; Chris Cantalini only blogs about independent artists he likes. But he has good taste; Gorilla vs. Bear has been positively acclaimed by Rolling Stone, Newsweek, URB Magazine’s reader’s poll, The Independent UK, and the New York Times. Chris is knowledgeable and on top of his game, often providing artist news before Pitchfork and Stereogum. You won’t find lengthy reviews and critiques here—no super-boring personal anecdotes either—just relevant information and sweet sweet MP3s for download.
Stereogum: Stereogum was one of the first MP3 blogs ever. More importantly, people still read it. Stereogum features mainstream and often small independent artists that become mainstream sensations like Vampire Weekend, the Fleet Foxes, and the Arcade Fire. It’s become a respected source for music news, videos, and downloads. Since it’s been around so long, it has developed sort of a mainstream vibe. Nonetheless, Stereogum was fundamental in creating a model for thousands of blogs that succeeded it.
Altered Zones: Altered Zones is Pitchfork’s sister site, with 12 contributors, each of whom are already established music bloggers. Created to adapt to the new musical landscape that Pitchfork couldn’t fully cover, Altered Zones focuses on home-recorded often lo-fi small-scale releases from small scenes all around the world. Altered Zones provides a space for truly independent releases to be discovered. Because the musical landscape is much like the shape shifting soundscapes Altered Zones often features, the blog seems to take a back seat and let the community shape itself. Altered Zones often has guest posts by artists it features—I see this as promoting a horizontal power structure within the musical community. When musicians don’t need to pay for an expensive studio, vinyl, or CD pressings to produce some amazing music, the scene changes; Altered Zones welcomes (/would not exist without) the change.